USA: Senate still split on stimulus package

US President Barack Obama's Democratic Senate allies remain hopeful they can achieve a compromise with Republicans and complete legislation on Friday to pass a 937 billion dollar economic stimulus package.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s sweeping gun-control package faces an uncertain future on Capitol Hill, where majority House Republicans are rejecting his proposals while the president’s allies in the Democratic-controlled Senate are stopping well short of pledging immediate action.

A U.S. Senate committee approved a bill that would bypass President Barack Obama and permit the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline, part of a drive by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to force a vote by the full Senate.

President Barack Obama laid out a sweeping blueprint for economic growth in his State of the Union, unveiling an ambitious liberal agenda that he promised would deliver a "growing economy that creates good, middle-class jobs."

As US workers continue to struggle with double-digit unemployment, the House of Representatives narrowly approved a 154-billion-dollar spending bill aimed at creating jobs.US President Barack Obama's Democratic allies said Wednesday's package, which the Senate will likely not act on until 2010, would aid those looking for work and states facing shortfalls and mulling public sector layoffs.Lawmakers voted 217-212 for the bill, which includes 48.3 billion dollars in infrastructure investments from highway construction to clean water projects and public housing programs.

Retiring U.S. Senator George Voinovich will break ranks with fellow Republicans and provide the crucial 60th vote needed in the Senate to pass President Barack Obama's small business lending package, an aide said Friday.

WASHINGTON — First it was objections by House Democrats that stood in the way of passage of a $1.1 trillion catchall spending bill. Now it’s the Senate Republicans’ turn, specifically Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah.
The two lawmakers demanded a vote Friday night on a proposal to cut funds from the bill that could be used to implement President Barack Obama’s new immigration policy, ending any chance the measure could clear the Senate and be sent to the White House with a minimum of fuss.

US Senators have reached a tentative agreement on a 780 billion dollar stimulus package. The compromise package, which will be voted on tonight or in the "next few days", falls short of the 937 billion dollars originally proposed.